Dhaka: Tarique Rahman, the elder son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and former three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The ceremony marked a significant moment as Rahman took oath in front of the public, a first in the country’s history.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the new Prime Minister formed a cabinet comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, who also took their oaths following Rahman’s swearing-in. As the Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Rahman assumed leadership after the passing of his mother, Begum Khaleda Zia.
Born on November 20, 1968, Tarique Rahman comes from a family deeply intertwined with Bangladesh’s independence and the 1971 Liberation War. His father, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, was a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s independence movement and a popular President who introduced multi-party democracy in the country. His mother,
Begum Khaleda Zia, was known for her unwavering leadership against autocracy.
Despite facing numerous challenges from a young age, including the martyrdom of his father and political adversities, Rahman pursued his political career with determination. He became an active participant in the anti-autocracy movement during his university years and formally entered BNP politics in 1988. Over the years, he held various positions within the party, showcasing his organizational skills and strategic acumen.
Rahman’s political journey was marked by hardship, including imprisonment and exile. Despite these challenges, he continued to engage with the people of Bangladesh through social media and remained active in the anti-fascist movement. His return to Bangladesh after 17 years of exile was met with a warm welcome from millions of supporters.
Rahman’s leadership was instrumental in BNP’s victory in the national election held on February 12, 2026, where the party secured an absolute majority. He is now representing
Dhaka-17 in the Jatiya Sangsad, having given up his seat in Bogura-6. Rahman’s commitment to grassroots empowerment and political reform has been a key element of his political ideology.
Today, Tarique Rahman’s swearing-in as the eleventh Prime Minister of Bangladesh marks the culmination of an eventful political journey. His historic oath-taking ceremony in front of the public signifies a new chapter in the country’s political history, as he embarks on leading the nation with a focus on democracy and public service.